Stockton News - Sept. 18, 2026 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - Sept. 18, 2026

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Calls for Unity at Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Flag Raising

Different countries, traditions, foods, music, histories and experiences are represented within the Hispanic community. At Stockton University’s Hispanic Heritage Month Flag Raising on Sept. 15, speakers celebrated those differences while emphasizing the connections that can build a stronger community.

That message of unity and this year’s theme, “Culture That Connects. Community That Leads,” was echoed throughout the annual ceremony at the Arts and Sciences Circle.

“I am here to talk about one thing — unity,” said Jose Morales, a Business Administration major and veteran who addressed about 60 people who gathered to kick off the month-long series of events on campus. “Unity doesn’t mean we are all the same. In fact, what makes our community so beautiful is that we all come from different backgrounds, different islands, different families, different traditions and different accents.”

Morales acknowledged that differences within the Hispanic community, including nationality, accents and even friendly debates over whose food is better, can sometimes create divisions.

“Sometimes that’s all good and fun, but we have to recognize that those differences can start to divide us,” said the first-generation student from Pleasantville. “There is already enough in this world that is trying to separate us,and we shouldn’t do it to each other. We can be proud of where we come from while recognizing what connects us.”

📸 View more photos on Flickr.

Senior Bryce Accardo Recognized as 2026 Staller Writing Tutor

For Bryce Accardo, a senior History major from Vineland, helping fellow students strengthen their writing has become an important part of his Stockton experience.

Accardo was recently honored with the Paul D. Staller ’97 Writing Center Tutor Award, an annual award supported by the Stockton University Foundation that celebrates outstanding Writing Center tutors who embody the kindness and service that defined Paul’s time at Stockton.

A transfer student, Accardo found connection and purpose at Stockton through the Writing Center and hopes to continue his studies in graduate school after completing his degree.

Writing Center Coordinator Eddie Horan said Accardo quickly became someone students trusted.

“Students who came to the center and really needed somebody started to gravitate toward Bryce,” Horan said. “He has a knack for sitting with someone and being patient. He makes students feel welcome and shows them they bring something valuable to the table.”

“Bryce earned every bit of it,” Horan said. “We are a better Writing Center because of Paul’s memory and the generosity of the Staller family.”

Admissions Simplified With Instant Acceptance Through Niche

Stockton is partnering with Niche to streamline the admissions process for high school seniors.

Qualified students will receive instant acceptance to Stockton for fall 2027 based on the information provided in their Niche profile. Niche is an online platform that helps students and families research, rank and review colleges. Stockton is the only institution of higher learning in New Jersey currently offering this program.

Direct admissions programs have expanded nationwide and grown in popularity as colleges like Stockton adopt modernized, student-friendly processes. These programs help break down barriers to enrollment, encouraging more students — especially Pell Grant-eligible, first-generation and underrepresented students — to pursue higher education.

“At Stockton, we want the path to a college education to be as clear and accessible as possible,” said Moses Goldmon, Stockton’s vice president for Enrollment Management. “Niche Direct Admissions allows us to meet students where they are, remove some of the uncertainty and stress from the admissions process, and let qualified students know immediately that there is a place for them at Stockton. Just as importantly, providing scholarship information upfront helps students and their families better understand that a high-quality Stockton education can be within their reach.”

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

Cleanup Volunteers, Vendors Needed for Annual Atlantic City Community Day Event

The Fifth Annual Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park is looking for vendors and volunteers to help beautify Atlantic City’s streets and beaches on Saturday, Oct. 24.

This year’s event will feature cleanup locations throughout the city from the Northeast Inlet to Lower Chelsea. Volunteers will check in at 8:30 a.m. with a 9 a.m. start time for their cleanup site, which will continue until 11:30 a.m. Trash-pickers and bags will be provided, but volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves. Boots and sneakers are preferred. No open-toed shoes. Last year’s volunteers removed over one ton of trash from community streets and the beach.

Each volunteer will receive a food truck meal voucher that can be redeemed at the Party in the Park at O’Donnell Park near Stockton’s Atlantic City campus.

SPOTLIGHT ON: KERRI SOWERS

Kerri Sowers, professor of Health Science at Stockton, recently returned from Aachen, Germany, where she served as a chief classifier for para dressage at the 2026 FEI World Championships.

Para dressage is an equestrian sport in which athletes with physical impairments compete in grades based on how their impairments affect their ability to ride. As chief classifier, Sowers oversaw the process of determining athletes' eligibility and competition grades.

A certified neurologic physical therapist, Sowers also coordinates Stockton's Disability Studies minor and teaches Disability & Sports.

In this interview, Sowers discusses how she found her way into classification, what it meant to serve at one of the sport's most prestigious events and how her international work shapes what she teaches at Stockton.

FRAME-WORTHY

Fun for All at Fall Fling 🎡

President Joe’s Fall Fling brought students, faculty and staff together Sept. 16 for an afternoon of carnival food, games, furry visitors and plenty of conversation.

The event carried on the welcoming spirit of President Joe’s annual ice cream social, giving students a chance to connect with the people who support them and feel a little more at home at Stockton.

📸View more photos on Flickr.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Facebook: What are you looking forward to this semester?

Instagram: Get Involved Fair showcases over 200 ways to engage in campus life.

TikTok: What will your student call home about first?

FROM THE SIDELINES

Home Sweet Home: Ospreys Set for Packed Sports Weekend

It’s a great weekend to be an Osprey.

If you haven’t had a chance to catch Stockton's sports teams yet this fall, you’ll have plenty of opportunities this weekend with every fall team in action at home, including cross country, volleyball, field hockey, soccer and golf.

Saturday is the big day, beginning with the women’s volleyball team hosting Neumann University at 10 a.m. in the Sports Center. That’s followed by the men’s and women’s cross country teams running in the Osprey Open. The men’s race begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the women at 11:15 a.m.

If you head out to the intramural fields off Pomona Road to watch the cross country races, you can then easily stop by the turf field at the North Athletic Complex to watch the field hockey team take on Alvernia University at 11:30 a.m.

Back at the Sports Center, the volleyball team will continue its tri-match by facing Moravian University at 2 p.m.

Fans can then head to G. Larry James Stadium for a soccer doubleheader. The Stockton women host Marywood University at 2:30 p.m., followed by the men taking on Catholic University of America at 5 p.m.

The weekend concludes Sunday when the Stockton women’s golf team hosts the Ron Jaworski Golf Tri-Match at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Galloway. Competition begins at 1 p.m.

Admission is free for cross country, field hockey, volleyball and golf. For the men’s and women’s soccer games, tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. They must be purchased online.

The Stockton Athletics website has more information, complete schedules and results.

Stockton Rolls to 6-2 Win

The field hockey team scored twice in the first three minutes and rolled to a 6-2 victory over Washington College on Sept. 16. The Ospreys led 4-0 at the half and capped the win with two goals in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Stella Devlin led the offense with her first two career goals and also made a defensive save. Riley DeMarco and Jenna Gregula chipped in with a goal and an assist apiece.

DeMarco got Stockton off to a fast start with an assist by Gregula just 1:09 after the opening whistle. Only 1:44 later, Maura Somers poked in a loose ball for a quick 2-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Mia Collins tapped in a centering pass from DeMarco to make it 3-0.

Later in the period, Devlin tipped in a shot by Kylee Donegan for her first goal at the college level.

Stockton will host Alvernia at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Palmer Hits 1,000th Kill in Stockton’s Fifth Straight Win

The volleyball team swept Muhlenberg College 3-0 for their fifth consecutive victory on Sept. 15. Three Ospreys reached double figures in kills and combined for 36 of Stockton's 46 kills on the night.

Nicole Palmer led Stockton with a team-high 14 kills and reached the 1,000-kill mark for her career. Palmer also compiled a team-high 14 digs for a double-double.

Olivia Magro smacked 12 kills and Jalynn Grant added a season-high 10 kills plus a match-high three blocks.

Kristen Burton dished 24 assists followed by Naomi Neher with a career-high 14 assists. Helen Murray contributed 11 digs.

Stockton will host Neumann and Moravian in a tri-match at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 19.

STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS

SCOSA Receives Mosaic Grant Funding

The Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) has received grant funding from the Mosaic Foundation to expand access to its weekly Caregiver Support Group.

The group, which meets Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m., supports people caring for loved ones with dementia. Funding through the Atlantic County Area Office on Aging currently supports participants age 60 and older who live in Atlantic County. The Mosaic Foundation grant will help support participants who live outside the county.

SCOSA Director Christine Ferri applied for the grant in May.

OSPREY NOTES

Meet Our New Faculty: Part 1

Each week, we’ll highlight faculty members beginning new roles at Stockton, sharing details about their work on campus and interests beyond it. Today, we spotlight Dawnavyn James, assistant professor of Education, and Justin Edwards, assistant professor of Digital Studies.

What courses or subjects will you be teaching at Stockton?

Edwards: This semester, I am teaching Digital Storytelling, a writing class in GENS, and Coding for Interactive Media in the Digital Studies program. The latter is designed for students with no coding experience to learn how to code their own video games. In the future, I’m excited to teach throughout the DIGI program, including subjects such as User Experience (for designing apps) and Statistics (for people who are afraid of statistics).

James: Language and Motor Development in P3 (EDUC 3151) and Early and Elementary Literacy for Teachers (EDUC 2125).

What is your area of research or professional specialty?

Edwards: My research focuses on how people use speech agents like Siri and Alexa and how we should design them. I like applying these technologies to support collaboration and collaborative learning and trying to make sure technology supports our lives and goals instead of cramming it into places we don’t want it.

James: Preserving Black history learning, instruction and curriculum development in early childhood and elementary classrooms.

What drew you to Stockton?

Edwards: I grew up in South Jersey, and Stockton was my first concept of what a college was when I was a kid. I went to a liberal arts college myself and spent time in different educational contexts. Over time, I realized that I wanted my academic home to be a place that values interdisciplinary education, and I wanted my geographic home to be back in South Jersey.

James: The interdisciplinary approach to the field of education, as well as the sense of community at Stockton.

What’s on your Kindle or nightstand right now?

Edwards: I’ve been slowly working through "The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity" by Robert Wright. Slowly because most days I don’t really want to think about AI any more than is strictly necessary.

James: "Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas.

What’s one fun fact about you that students or colleagues might be surprised to learn?

Edwards: For the last five years, I was living and working in Finland, just at the edge of the Arctic Circle. I can speak some Finnish (poorly), I’ve eaten reindeer and I’ve walked across a frozen bay.

James: I am obsessed with playing The Sims 4!

Administration & Finance Fall Newsletter Available

The Division of Administration & Finance’s Fall 2026 newsletter is now available, with updates on university finances, campus services, human resources and more.

It’s Time to Confirm Your Ospreys!

Welcome back, faculty! As the fall semester has begun, it's almost time to Confirm your Ospreys!

Faculty are reminded to complete the Academic Engagement process by confirming student attendance/academic activity.

The Academic Engagement process is to be completed by Wednesday, Sept. 23. The Office of Financial Aid will use this information to make adjustments to student financial aid disbursements based upon each student's confirmed number of credits.

Each instructor will be responsible for confirming student attendance or participation in an academic activity. For online courses, faculty are reminded to include an assignment or discussion activity during the add/drop period so that the student's attendance can be confirmed.

The link to complete the Academic Engagement process can be found under the faculty tab within the goStockton portal.

For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit stockton.edu/academicengagement.

ON THIS DAY: On Sept. 18, 1983, KISS appeared on MTV without their trademark makeup for the first time. The unmasking marked a major image change for the band after nearly a decade of performing behind the face paint. 🎸

Just a little ’80s nostalgia to rock out to this Friday!